Fire Starting Device and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a fire starting device and method of use, wherein the fire starting device is suitable for starting indoor and outdoor fires. In one embodiment, the fire starting device includes a housing having an open top portion and an open bottom portion. The housing further includes a plurality of openings thereon, wherein the openings are adapted to allow air to flow through the housing. The openings are preferably separated at regular intervals in order to allow air to flow evenly throughout the housing. The interior of the housing includes combustible materials therein. The housing can be placed in the center of a pile of fire logs or other suitable fire fuel. Thereafter, the combustible materials can be ignited, allowing the user to start a fire.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/924,395 filed on Jan. 7, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fire starter. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an improved fire starter device and method of use. In one embodiment, the present fire starting device includes a housing that is configured to hold combustible materials therein. The housing is configured to provide a sufficient quantity of oxygen to fuel the fire when the housing is lit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ability to start a fire under various conditions and with different fire starting techniques is essential. This knowledge and skill is an important part of one's survival preparedness, particularly in an outdoor environment. When starting a fire, many individuals use matches. Matches are simple to use, but they can be unreliable because they are not effective when wet or in windy conditions. Additionally, matches may not provide sufficient ignition when they catch on fire.

Some individuals utilize lighters when starting a fire. Lighters tend to be more reliable because they can be used in dry and wet environments. Lighters, however, require lighter fluid to function. Thus, individuals are required to carry extra lighter fluid to ensure that the lighter is functional. Similar to matches, lighters also do not provide sufficient ignition when they catch on fire. Thus, it is difficult to start a large fire when using lighters.

It is also important to sustain a fire after it is started. One of the most important elements in sustaining the fire is an oxidizer. In most cases, it is the ambient air, and in particular one of its components, oxygen. By depriving a fire of air, it can be extinguished. Thus, adequate amount of air flow is key to maintaining a fire. In this regard, there is a need for a device in the prior art that allows individuals to start a fire and maintain it in a convenient manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that claim apparatuses for starting a fire. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. Some of these devices disclose a cone shaped apparatus that is composed of a combustible material. Other devices disclose a charcoal fire chimney for starting a fire. These devices, however, do not disclose means for allowing sufficient airflow therethrough. The foregoing is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2002/0129808 to Manner discloses a combustible fuel source including a body comprising a porous carrier and a solid fuel therein. When combustion is established, the solid fuel is vaporized through the porous carrier, allowing the body to ignite other surrounding items. Manner, however, discloses a device having a conical body with a closed top and bottom.

Similarly, U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2005/0045168 to Zapp discloses a charcoal fire starter and cooking device. The device comprises a housing having an upper compartment, a middle compartment, and a lower compartment, wherein each of the compartments is in fluid communication with each other. The upper compartment and the middle compartment comprise fuel sources therein. Zapp, however, discloses only a housing that can contain a fire therein.

U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2013/0042852 to Cottrell also discloses a charcoal lighter having an upper compartment that is in fluid communication with a lower compartment. The upper compartment is adapted to hold charcoal therein, while the lower compartment is adapted to hold combustible material therein. The foregoing devices in Zapp and Cottrell relate to fire starting devices that contain a fire therein. Thus, the housing is not composed of a combustible material. Instead, the housing is composed of a metal or other suitable material that can withstand heat.

Other devices relate to devices that can be ignited to start a fire. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,259 to Peterson discloses artificial logs that are composed of recycled waste, and in particular, cardboard sheets. The recycled waste is compressed and cut into segments so as to resemble a fire log. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,637 to Weissman discloses charcoal packaging that comprises an outer wrapper that encloses pieces of charcoal material therein. The charcoal material is coated or soaked in a vegetable wax to form an aggregate.

The devices disclosed in the prior art have several known drawbacks. None of the prior art devices disclose a housing having an open top and bottom for increasing air circulation. The present invention overcomes these limitations by disclosing a housing with an open top and bottom portions. Additionally, the housing comprises a plurality of openings thereon so as to facilitate air circulation. It is therefore submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to apparatuses for starting a fire. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of apparatuses for starting a fire now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved fire starting device wherein the same can be utilized for starting a fire. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a housing having an open top and an open bottom, defining an interior volume therein. Additionally, the housing comprises a plurality of openings thereon so as to allow air to flow therethrough. The interior volume of the housing comprises a wick that is composed of a combustible material.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved fire starting device and method of use that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fire starting device that increases air flow and air circulation in order to facilitate lighting and burning of the fire.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fire starting device and method of use that increases the ease of lighting a fire.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fire starting device that can be used for lighting indoor and outdoor fires.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fire starting device wherein the device may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

References are made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the fire starting device and method of use. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used to start a fire. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a view of an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention comprises a fire starting device 21 having an elongated panel 22. The panel 22 comprises a first end 25 and a second end 26 that is folded into multiple sections. In the illustrated embodiment, the panel 22 comprises ten sections in a side-by-side orientation. In other embodiments, however, the panel 22 may comprise fewer or more sections. It is contemplated that each of the sections is substantially equal in shape and size.

The panel 22 is folded into a coiled configuration so that the panel 22 resembles a pentagon when viewed from the top, defining an interior volume in which combustible materials 24 can be placed. Two or more sections overlap when the panel 22 is in the coiled configuration. In other embodiments, however, the panel 22 can be coiled to resemble a rectangle or other shapes when viewed from the top.

The panel 22 comprises one or more openings 23 thereon. The openings 23 on the overlapping sections are aligned with each other to create a single opening. Some of the openings 23 are located where adjacent sections fold. In this way, one or more openings 23 are disposed on the corners, or between adjacent sections when the panel 22 is in a coiled configuration, as depicted in FIG. 1. Additionally, the openings 23 are located at the top end and bottom end of the panel 22. In this way, the panel 22 allows air to flow into the interior volume of the panel 22 when the panel 22 is positioned in an upright orientation on a horizontal support surface. The openings 23 may comprise a rectangular shape and/or circular shape, depending upon embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a view of another embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated embodiment of the fire starting device 31 includes a cylindrical housing 33 with a hollow interior volume for holding combustible materials 24 therein. The housing comprises an open top end 34 and an open bottom end 35. In this way, air can flow from the top and/or the bottom of the housing 33. The housing 33 further comprises a plurality of openings 32 thereon. Preferably, the openings 32 are separated at regular intervals so as to allow air to flow through the housing 33 evenly.

In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 33 comprises a plurality of ridges 36 thereon. In this way, the diameter of the cross section of the housing 33 varies from the top end 34 to the bottom end 35 of the housing 33. The ridges 36 allow a user to easily grip the housing 33. In either embodiment, the present invention is composed of compressed wood, cotton, or paper fibers. In some embodiments, the housing 33 may be coated or sprayed with a catalyst that enables the housing 33 and the combustible materials 24 to combust more readily.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a view of the present invention in use. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 33 is positioned in the center of a pile of fire logs 40. The present invention can be used to ignite indoor fires in fireplaces as well as outdoor fires in campfires. Additionally, the fire logs 40 are positioned so that they are in direct contact with the housing 33, thereby allowing the fire logs 40 to catch on fire 41. Thereafter, combustible materials 24 are placed within the interior volume of the housing 33. Fires 41 start when the combustible materials 24, in combination with a sufficient quantity of oxygen gas, are exposed to a source of heat. Because the housing 33 comprises a plurality of openings 32 thereon, air is able to flow throughout the housing 33, providing sufficient quantity of oxygen gas to fuel the fire 41.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above descriptions then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specifications are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A fire starting device, comprising: a housing having an open top end and an open bottom end; said housing having an interior volume for holding combustible materials therein; a plurality of openings disposed on said housing.
 2. The fire starting device of claim 1, wherein said housing is cylindrical.
 3. The fire starting device of claim 2, wherein said housing comprises a plurality of ridges thereon.
 4. The fire starting device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a plurality of side walls and is folded so as to form a pentagon when viewed from the top.
 5. The fire starting device of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of openings is rectangular in shape.
 6. The fire starting device of claim 1, wherein each said plurality of openings is circular in shape.
 7. The fire starting device of claim 1, wherein said housing is composed of a combustible material.
 8. A fire starting device, comprising: an elongated panel having a plurality of sections connected to one another in a side-by-side orientation; wherein said panel is arranged in a wrapped configuration to form a geometric shape; wherein said shape comprises a defined interior volume for holding combustible materials therein; said panel having a plurality of openings thereon.
 9. The fire starting device of claim 8, wherein said geometric shape is a pentagon.
 10. A method of starting a fire, comprising the steps of: placing a fire starting device in the center of a plurality of fire logs; igniting combustible materials held within a fire starting device; supplying an oxidizer to fuel a fire. 